The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-03-05

seemed to cheer up all of sudden as the
mare gave friendly whinny in reply to her
masters caress.
"Hang the blues ~ exclaimed the Major;
81 don't often get 'em, but I've got fit OF
them now, that's certain. IT'S long way
home to Plumperton, and we've had hard
day of it. What say you, my lady. to put
ting up at the Wheatsheaf for the night
ehp'
And gathering up his reins, Major George
set his mare going, and did not again pull
up until Cicely stopped of her own accord
at comfortable looking hostelry, which
stood on the high road just at the termina-
ton of Hangman's Heath.
A shabby-lool1ing fellow, with terrible
squint made his appearance from The
stables at the back, and stood at the mares
head.
"Oh it's you, is it," said the Major, as he
got off. ''None of your tricks this time,
mind. You remember what / gave you the
last time l was here, L suppose, for hitting
the mare, don't you?"
''Ees,n replied the fellow, sulkily, 81 re-
member right enough"
every good; mind you don't do it again.
If ] catch you touching the mare this time,
I'll show you no mercy, you may depend on
it. Show the way, and I'll see the mare
done up and fed before &C into the house"
The man sull5ily obeyed, and when he had
seen Cicely comfortably done up for the
night and fed and patted affectionately, the
Major made His way through the kitchen
into the bar, where he found the landlord
and his buxom wife and pretty baima;d all
waiting to give him hearty welcome
"Well Major, now you have made your
old faUOTitp cnnfO1- a bla with
hands, you must let US do you up right and
proper for the night, mustn't us, missis'"
said Jacob Shrub, as the Major at lass made
his appearance from the stable.
81 wasn't going to trust my mare to the
tender mercies of that cock-eyed rascal of
yours, you may depend" answered the lat
ter. l haven't forgotten catching him i'll
using her with ptchfork when was here
last, and I'll venture to say he hasn't for
gotten the taste of my horsewhip. | wonder
you keep the fellow about the place." added
he.
"Well sir" replied Jacob, ''to tell you
the truth l only keep him on out of kind
ness. | did start him, after the thrashing
you gave HIM, and served him right, Major;
but he begged so hard for forgiveness that
took him on again, and he does lot of
work, does cross-eyed Dick, | can tell you,
Major. If ever he offends again though III
show him no mercy, you may depend SIR
mo, nor |, if he touches my mare" re
piled the Major, grasping his whip tightly
as he spoke. "And now,n continued he,
''what have you got to eat in the house.
Jacob! I'm right hungry, can tell you,
and want something as quick as can have
it,
"Well, now" said the landlord, scratch
ing his head, chats okkard-very okllard
that it is. Save cold meat, there's nothing
that you could have under three quarters of
an hour. But III tell you what, Major,
there's gentleman-an army gentleman,
fancy, like yourself-has got dinner just
going up to him in the Blue Room. Venison
soup, roast goslin and damson tart to finish
ND with-more than enough for two, Major
If you wouldn't mind joining Of him, I'll
send up and ask him at once"
so, | don't mind bit, if he don't" re-
piled the Major; ''on the contrary, shall
be very glad of his company if he's a good
fellow; and if, as you think, he's soldier
like myself, so much the better as we
can fight our battles DER again over our
wine. Don't lose any time then, Jacob, but
send up at once and tell the gentleman l
shall be happy, if it pleases him, to join him
at dinner" The message, duly delivered
by the landlord in person, the reply came
back that the stranger sent his compli-
ments, and would be only too pleased If the
Major would honor him with his company.
Major Brabazon, accordingly, was shown
up to the Blue Room, where the stranger
awaited him, and the dinner was ordered at
once.
Very agreeable it was, too, and very
agreeable was the stranger. 1t was hard to
say, indeed, which the Major liked best,
Though not an army man, as the landlord
had surmised, the newcomer seemed TO have
been everywhere and seen every thing. A
more jovial companion, too, the Major had
never met A game at piquet followed din
ner, which ended in the Major raising a
winner of $50. Then the latter proposed a
bowl of punch. A second followed and a
third, and fourth. How the Major got to
bed he never knew; but he woke cup late the
next morning with considerable headache,
to find that the stranger had mounted his
horse and taken his departure some hours
before.
Breakfast despatched, the Major followed
suit, and ordered the mare round. And
when he urged Cicely into canter at the
first bit of turf they came to he was sur
prised to find that his favorite went remark
ably short. He had never known her so dull
and jaded as she now appeared.
"She did nothing, either, yesterday, )" NUT
tered the Major. 'Iwonder what the reason
is Confound that cockeyed hostler of
Jacobs! If | thought he had been playing
any tricks on her I'd go back this minute
and break every bone in his body" Il
1t was market-day at Plumperton, just a
week after Major Brabazon's sojourn for
the night at the Wheatsheaf Inn, and the
town of Plumperton was apparently in a
great state of excitement about something
or another-it seemed quite turned upside
down in fact. Business was apparently
suspended. The magnates of the town in
twos and threes, and all looking extremely
solemn, were dotted about the High street
in little groups Farmers and their wives
were gathered together at each street
corner and in the market-place, one and all
looking as glum as could be and one and
all talking on the same subject, which,
judging from the scraps of conversation to
be heard as one passed by one Of the assem-
bled groups, was none other than Major
Brabazon and his white-faced mare.
"rll never believe it of him, never, not il
| he was HING in chains ton times OVprn, OK.